Taxing the Competition: County Appraiser Speeds to Victory on the Open Road!

The Big Bend Open Road Race (BBORR), one of the most challenging open road races in the world, is set to return this year, bringing speed, skill, and adrenaline to the scenic highways of West Texas, and local man Todd Tate is ready to roll.

Kinney County Appraisal District’s Chief Appraiser will be headed to Fort Stockton at the end of April for his third run in the Big Bend Open Road Race. It’s hard to beat last year’s First Place in the 110 mph category, but he’s happy to add to his collection.  Scheduled for April 23rd – 26th 2025, the BBORR invites drivers and racing enthusiasts from across the nation to take on the ultimate challenge: racing flat-out on a 118-mile stretch of Highway 285 between Fort Stockton and Sanderson.

   For Todd Tate, the roar of an engine and the blur of the West Texas highway are more than just a thrill; they are the realization of a dream. Tate, who was raised in Mexico by missionary parents before moving to the U.S. in 2005, has always had a passion for cars. He recalls reading about high-speed road races in Hot Rod magazine as a young man and hoping he’d one day compete. 

  "I've always been into cars," Tate says. "When I found out about this race being so close, I knew it was time to stop thinking about it and just do it."

  That dream became reality last April when he entered his first BBORR race in the 100 mph class, placing third out of ten competitors. Encouraged by his success, he stepped up to the 110 mph category in October, just missing the perfect time by just one hundred and thirty-seven thousandths of a second, and taking First Place out of 27 competitors in a field of 122 cars. 

   Gearing up for another run at the Big Bend Open Road Race (BBORR) this April, Tate hopes to repeat last year's first-place finish, but this time with a 120mph target speed. Tate will once again race his dark metallic purple 1995 Corvette, a car he acquired as part of an unbeatable deal with another local man who was clearing out his collection. He says he’s spent more money on the wheels and tires than he did on the purchase price of the car. 

   Unlike professional racers with extensive practice opportunities, BBORR competitors have only one chance to test their vehicles under real conditions—when the organizers shut down a 10-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 90 before the race. Tate has developed his own award-winning system using stopwatches, a laminated reference sheet taped to the steering wheel, and this time he’s adding a GPS tracking system. He also keeps an eye on his odometer to help stay on target with a precise average speed. 

"I know the road well since I drive it several times a year for meetings and to visit my daughter in Phoenix," Tate explains. "There are several blind hill crest curves, and the GPS will be a new tool for me this year."

   The BBORR isn’t just any race—it’s widely considered the most challenging open road race in the world. Spanning 118 miles of scenic, winding highway through the rugged landscape of West Texas, the race draws drivers from across the country and around the globe. Racers push their cars and their nerves to the limit, competing in speed categories that test precision, endurance, and control. The event brings a surge of excitement to rural West Texas, transforming Fort Stockton into a temporary hub for high-performance vehicles and adrenaline-fueled competition. The event also brings significant economic benefits to Fort Stockton and Sanderson, with local business, hotels, and restaurants seeing an influx of visitors.

   While the BBORR isn’t really a spectator race, it certainly draws a crowd, and Tate says it’s a tight knit community of racers. He’s gotten to know a dedicated group from Houston, and enjoys competing with Neil LaHaye, an older gentleman who competes in a ‘21 Corvette. Tate credits his friend Paulino Gonzalez, a seasoned BBORR competitor from Del Rio, for inspiring him to take the plunge. "I told him, 'I did something, and it's your fault,'" he jokes.

  Tate's family has been supportive from the start. His wife Sandra, whom he met in a church youth group in 1978, has been by his side through all his endeavors. The couple married in 1985 or ‘86 with two weddings—one in Mexico and one in the U.S.—and have two daughters. His wife, daughters, and grandson were present for his first race, and while the event is not open to spectators due to road closures, their encouragement means everything to him.

  As both a preacher at the Church of Christ and the County Tax Appraiser, Tate interacts with many people in the community and never hesitates to share his passion for the race. Whether explaining his meticulous preparation process or recounting the adrenaline rush of speeding down the open road, Tate’s excitement is contagious.

As Tate prepares to head to Fort Stockton on April 23 for race weekend, he remains focused on the challenge ahead. With his meticulous approach and a love for the open road, he’s ready to once again push the limits and chase victory in one of Texas' most exhilarating racing events.

Find out more about the Big Bend Open Road Race online at BBORR.com and if you see Mr. Tate around town over the next few weeks, be sure to wish him luck!